The HSG START Accelerator is a program based in St. Gallen, Switzerland, designed to prepare European technology startups for investment. Founded by the University of St.Gallen (HSG), the START Foundation, and the Switzerland Innovation Park East (SIP Ost), the initiative provides founders with tailored business acumen to complement their technical expertise. The program focuses on connecting startups with a network of investors, academic institutions, and industry leaders to facilitate fundraising and strategic growth.
Program Structure and Key Events
• Duration: The program runs for a period of three months.
• Format: A combination of on-site and online sessions is utilized.
• Location Requirement: Participants are required to be physically present in St. Gallen, Switzerland, for the duration of the batch. Co-working facilities are provided.
• Boot Camp: An intensive session to kickstart the program journey.
• Expert Sessions: Hands-on workshops with experienced professionals.
• Roasting Sessions: Opportunities to refine pitches with feedback from peer founders.
• Tailored Coaching: Startups are matched with experienced business leaders for personalized guidance.
• Mentorship: Regular, compact sessions with a personal mentor.
• Mock Office Hours: Direct challenges and feedback from investors in a simulated environment.
• Community Events: Networking and social events within the St. Gallen ecosystem.
• Demo Day: A final event where startups present to investors to potentially raise funds.
Benefits for Startups
• Financial Support: Each participating startup receives a scholarship of CHF 10,000, paid in tranches, plus an additional CHF 5,000 in benefits.
• Investment Opportunity: The accelerator offers the potential for up to CHF 200,000 in funding for selected startups.
• Expert Access: Participants receive individual coaching from leading experts within the St. Gallen ecosystem.
• Investor Readiness: The program aims to build a robust market strategy to support ambitious growth and success in future funding rounds.
Program Outcomes
• Company Essentials: Develop comprehensive documentation and prepare to address investor questions beyond the pitch deck.
• Corporate & Legal: Establish an investor-ready corporate structure, including clear ownership, sound governance, and well-crafted agreements.
• Financials & Fundraising: Build an adaptable financial model and define a fundraising strategy aligned with valuation, milestones, and growth targets.
• Customers & Go-To-Market: Refine market positioning, validate target audiences, and create a focused go-to-market plan with a measurable pipeline.
• Team Culture & Organization: Shape company culture, clarify roles and responsibilities, and establish strategies for attracting and retaining talent.
• Connections: Gain access to curated introductions to industry leaders for market validation, pilot projects, and building professional relationships.
Ideal Candidate Profile
• Location: Companies must be based in Europe and prepared for intensive on-site work in St. Gallen.
• Industry: The program targets B2B Tech business models, including DeepTech (AI, Robotics, HealthTech, SensorTech), SaaS, Fintech, Adtech, Proptech, FoodTech, and Digital Marketplaces. Consultancies and pure service companies are not eligible.
• Technology and Traction: Applicants should have a validated MVP and have demonstrated initial market traction.
• Funding Stage: The program is for startups in the Pre-Seed or Seed stage, having secured up to CHF 1 million in funding and/or up to CHF 10 million in non-dilutive grants. Ideal candidates are seeking to raise between CHF 1 million and CHF 10 million in equity within the next 12 months.
• Founder Team: The founding team must be fully committed, with at least one founder possessing a scientific or engineering background.
Selection Process
• Step 1: Application (Online): Submission of an application through the program's online form.
• Step 2: Eligibility Review (Online): The program team reviews the application to ensure it meets the criteria.
• Step 3: Deep Dive (Online): Qualified startups are invited for a 30-minute call to discuss their application and clarify questions.
• Step 4: Assessment (Online): Short-listed startups are invited to a selection day to pitch to an expert jury.
• Step 5: Onboarding (In-person): Selected startups are invited to join the next cohort and undergo an onboarding process.
Application Details
• Current Status: Applications are open for Batch 3.
• Program Dates: The next cohort will run from September to December 2026.
• Application Method: Interested parties can apply via the online application form on the program's website.
Ecosystem and Leadership
• Founding Partners: University of St.Gallen (HSG), START Foundation, and Switzerland Innovation Park East (SIP Ost).
• Experts and Mentors: The network includes successful founders, business leaders, and investors such as Ursula Oesterle (VP Innovation at EPFL), Cornelia Gut-Villa (CEO of Startfeld Foundation), Alex Illic (Co-Founder of ETH AI Centre), Dietmar Grichnik (Vice-President of University of St. Gallen), Melanie Gabriel (Co-Founder of Yokoy), and Andreas Göldi (Partner at b2venture).
• Foundation Board: Dietmar Grichnik, Cornelia Gut-Villa, and Andreas Göldi.
• Advisory Board: The advisory board includes Melanie Gabriel, Alex Illic, Katka Letzing, Andy Schwarzenbach, Torben Antretter, Nicole Büttner, Nicole Herzog, Matthias Keckl, Joachim Schoss, Phyllis Studerus, and Thomas Witt.
• Program Locations: Operations are based at the Switzerland Innovation Park Ost (HQ), START Campus, and the University of St. Gallen Square.
This accelerator offers a comprehensive framework for European tech startups aiming to achieve investment readiness. By providing access to capital, expert mentorship, and a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem in St. Gallen, the program equips founders with the strategic business capabilities necessary to complement their technical innovations and secure funding for future growth.